Learning Innovation Grants

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LIG #1 Geocaching Project
  • Ben Bray, Laura Talbot, and Natalie Amato are developing project-based learning opportunities that use geocaching to combine math, science, geography, team building outdoor education, problem solving, social studies, and the language arts in the LS. These projects culminate in trips to the Merrell Rd Campus and Wolf Run.

LIG #2 CMC Outreach Project
  • Christi Morrow, Joe Snyder, Monica Awbrey, and Chance Harris are extending service-based learning by developing a student choir program for patients at Children's Medical Center.

LIG#3 Mentoring and Onboarding
  • Zora Skelton, Meg Farhenbrook, and Jana Reed developed and implemented the New Employee Mentoring & Orientation Program.
  • They implemented their program during the New Employee Orientation Program.

LIG#4 TMSCA Project
  • Ashley Johnson and Adam Willis are working on ways to include more hands-on activities during MS science practice sessions for TMSCA competitions.

LIG#5 Primer Selection Process
  • Allison Hogan, Ashley Beck, and Cara Holmes are working to design new processes for selecting students for primer.

LIG#6 Screencasting Project
  • Mary Hansell and Kimberly Rogers are creating resources for teachers and students to assist them in their use of screencasting and the iPad app iMovie.
  • They have completed their summer hours of preparation.
  • The teachers have begun implementing their new units during the first semester.

LIG#7 CORE Project
  • Katy Smullen is researching, organizing, and compiling materials for a physical and electronic binder of CORE instructions, guidelines, and activities.

LIG#8 Beginner Program
  • Lauren Hill and Ann Jackson will pilot inquiry-based learning in the 4-day Beginner classroom.
  • They have completed their summer hours of preparation.

LIG#9 Tech Integration in Spanish
  • Joanne Donheiser, Marta Milian, and Sharon Stout have developed level-appropriate listening and project-based activities for Spanish I, II, and III.
  • They have completed their summer hours of preparation.
  • The team members will be implementing their new units throughout the first semester.

LIG#10 Mock Caldecott Project
  • Bonnie Tollefson, Linda Van Der Kar, Becky Roberts, Emily Ackermann, Brenda Wilder, Ashley Jarol, Zora Skelton, and Martha Bowden are designing a Mock Caldecott Award project during which LS students will use interdisciplinary skills to evaluate, discuss, and debate the merits candidate books.
  • The main portion of this project for students will take place January 7-24, 2014.

LIG#11 Biodiesel Project
  • Nick Brette and John Gallo are developing curriculum that combines engineering and environmental science classes to demonstrate how common, everyday grocery by-products can be converted into biodiesel fuel.
  • The main portion of this project will begin the third week into the second semester and last about one month.

LIG#12 Code Academy
  • Monica Awbry and Ben Bray are working on the foundations of an ESD Code Academy for the Lower School to expose LS students to web-based programming.

LIG#13 North Texas Food Bank Project
  • Christi Morrow, Jill Simpson, Ellen Neill, and Katharine Deem are working on curriculum and advisory assignments to supplement the 5th and 10th grade North Texas Food Bank Project.

LIG#14 Quarry Digital Data Project
  • Ashley Johnson and Peter Lutken are combining Outdoor Education and 6th grade science experiences to collect, compile, and manipulate data about animals, temperatures, weather conditions, and the quarry environment.
  • 6th grade science students will use the data during their 3rd quarter Quarry Field Guide Project.

LIG#15 My Cultural Odyssey
  • The 9th grade English and World Cultures teachers are developing a series of project-based, complementary assignments that help students define their own personal cultural journeys in relation to those of their families, various peer groups, and contrasting community members. Students will compile the collection of narratives, essays, visuals, videos, artwork, and other artifacts in a digital portfolio.

LIG#16 Science-English Collaboration
  • Ashley Johnson, Steve Gende, and Peter Lutken are developing a program that incorporates project-based instruction, movie-making, and public speaking.
  • The project will be implemented over a three week period during the 3rd quarter.

LIG#17 Global Problem Solving
  • Adam Willis and Denise Stark are developing interdisciplinary projects that will engage 7th grade students in inquiry about countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
  • The teachers have begun to incorporate these projects during the first semester..

LIG#18 Global Connection
  • Meg Fahrenbrook, Eleanor Arnold, and Deb Goudy are developing ways to use the Global Perspectives class as a laboratory for developing and using technology to teach history curriculum through the integration of real-world skills.
  • These projects will be implemented throughout the second semester, culminating with teacher resources.

LIG#19 1:1 iPad Unit
  • Phillip Bryan, Amy Henderson, and Elizabeth Chura are designing units of instruction to be used in their classrooms for one month each.

LIG#20 LS Admission Preview Project
  • Ashley Beck, Ben Bray, Julie Butterworth, Jenny Esteve, Allison Hogan, Zora Skelton, and Brenda Wilder are working to realign the Lower School admission tours to reflect the strategic plan.

LIG#21 How Sweet It Is 2BPrimer

  • Allison Hogan and Laura Talbott are working on curriculum that will bring the city of Dallas into their classrooms through activities, visitors, and field trips throughout the year.

LIG#22 Mega-Cognition Project
  • Thom Smith, Max Auge, and Phil Bryan are researching meta-cognition theory and its applications in order to produce teacher resources and instructional pilots for projects in math, biology, English, and Latin. Tom Hansell is assisting this group as well.

LIG#23 Technology in Mathematics
  • Thom Smith, Maggie Ferris, and Jill Simpson are researching software and internet options for mathematical resources with interactive user responses and immediate feedback in order to assist teachers as they pilot these types of strategies in their classrooms.
  • Thom Smith has been working extensively with Khan Academy.

LIG#24 Algebra-Physics Simulation Project
  • Doris Sampson, Maggie Ferris, and Richard Williams are researching and adapting simulation based learning, specifically Physics Education Technology (Phet) developed at the University of Colorado, for use in their math and science courses. Tom Hansell is assisting this group as well.

LIG#25 Mental Mind/Creative Heart
  • Elizabeth Chura and Charlotte Chambliss are working on flex time lesson plans that will use art-based activities to teach physics topics, resulting in student creations.

LIG #26 1st Grade iPad SAMR Project
  • Bonnie Tollefson, Linda Van Der Kar, Connie Elms, Monica Frymire, Rachel Bingham, Marion Baker, and Mary Bickey are researching and adapting guided reading instruction in first grade to make use of the iPads.
  • The team has already begun to implement his program in the first grade.

LIG#27 Flipped Classroom Unit
  • Liz Peterson and Amy Henderson are working with the flipped classroom model to develop a unit of study in chemistry.
  • They have completed their unit and are ready to implement it in their classes.

LIG#28 Innovation in English
  • Steven Gende and Meg Fahrenbrook have been working on a collaborative, inquiry-based digital magazine project that combines writing, editing, design, and teamwork.
  • The teachers have introduced the assignments, and students are working diligently on their digital magazines.

LIG#29 Algorithmic Thinking on Moodle
  • Eddie Eason and Deb Goudy are updating the Honors Geometry curriculum with programming projects and by using Moodle to implement online instruction, communication, and assessment. Tom Hansell is working with this group.

LIG#30 21st Century Classroom Furniture
  • Steve Rooney and Amy Henderson have been researching classroom and lab furniture to suit the needs of the 21st century learning classroom.
  • The teachers have selected the paint and furniture and will soon begin to create the model lab.

LIG#31 Sports Medicine Project
  • Carrie Martin and Jeff Geier are working to continue to develop their Sports Medicine Program, including online resources and curriculum.

LIG#32 Wolfram Project
  • Mark Mrozek, Maggie Ferris, and Elizabeth Chura are going to introduce faculty to mathematical and scientific software and create various problem-based projects for students that focus on the themes of optimization and computer graphics associated with mathematics in pre-calculus, calculus, and physics.

LIG#33 LS Olympics
  • Kris Brockhagen, Bonnie Tollefson, Hollie Read, Zora Skelton, and Martha Bowden are reworking the Olympics project and expanding it to include the entire Lower School.
  • The teachers have already begun to enhance previous versions of the Olympics and look forward to including all levels of the Lower School.